Current transmission element

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a current transmission element which is used for transmitting a current by a pressure contact at the windings of a capacitor. The current transmission element includes a metalic mesh made of tin-placed wires or a woven mat made of tin-plated wires.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention is directed to a current transmission element. Inparticular, the invention relates to a current transmission element forcapacitor windings having flame-sprayed contact layers also known asschoopage layers.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally contact current transmissions are known in applicationsinvolving capacitor windings having flame-sprayed contact layers(schoopage layers).

U.S. Pat. No. 3,593,072 incorperated herein by reference discloses acapacitor winding with a schoopage layer that is connected to a meshscreen of copper with the assistance of a soldered connection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to specify a current transmissionelement that need not be soldered to the contact layers.

This object is inventively achieved with a current transmission elementfor capacitor windings having flame-sprayed contact layers or schoopagelayers including a knit metal mesh having tin-plated wires that isprovided as a pressure contact current transmission.

In another embodiment of the invention, a current transmission elementincludes a woven metal fabric, also known as mats, having additionaltin-plating that is provided for pressure contact current transmission.

Advantageouly,the invention replaces the standard soldering of contactsby a pressure contact current transmission with the assistance of ametal mesh or metal fabric with the participation of tin.

Additional advantages and features of the present invention will becomeapparent upon reading the following detailed description of thepresently preferred embodiments and appended claims, and upon referenceto the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an example of a softly knit metal mesh according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of a wire of the metal mesh in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a capacitor winding.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a woven metal fabric according to the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

U.S. Pat. No. 5,386,345, incorporated herein by reference, discloses ametal fabric that serves in the standard way for the electromagneticshielding of an electronic device arranged in a housing. Teachings thatsuch metal fabrics are also suitable for other applied purposes cannotbe derived from this document.

FIG. 1 shows an example of softly knit metal 10 that yields an elastic,large-area contact element having optimum confirmation to uneven contactsurfaces.

FIG. 2 shows a cross section of a wire 12 of the metal mesh 10 in FIG.1. The wire 12 is a plated copper, preferably tin-plated, that mayinclude additional tin-plating for high current transmissions.

FIG. 3 shows a standard capacitor winding 14 suitable for applicationsof the current transmission element involving pressure-contact currenttransmissions of low and high currents. For example, contact currenttransmission at schoopage capacitor windings.

FIG. 4 shows a woven metal fabric 20 according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

Other embodiments according to the present invention have additional tin(e.g. tin bridges) embedded into the fabric and are especiallywell-suited for high current transmissions.

All required geometries can be fabricated (e.g., punched parts) from thetin-saturated fabric mats (semi-finished goods).

Although other modifications and changes may be suggested by thoseskilled in the art, it is the intention of the inventors to embodywithin the patent warranted hereon all changes and modifications asreasonably and properly come within the scope of their contribution tothe art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A current transmission element for capacitorwindings having flame-sprayed contact schoopage layers, the currenttransmission element comprising: a softly knit-metal flexible meshproviding an elastic, large-area contact element having substantiallyoptimum confirmation to uneven contact surfaces, said mesh having aplurality of tin-plated wires in flexible pressure contact to theflame-sprayed schoopage contact layer for current transmission; and saidmesh being held together with the schoopage contact layer only bypressure contact and not by soldering.
 2. A current transmission elementfor capacitor windings having flame-sprayed contact schoopage layers,the current transmission element comprising: a softly woven-metalflexible fabric mat providing an elastic, large-area contact elementhaving substantially optimum confirmation to uneven contact surfaces,said mat having tin-plating and being in flexible pressure contact tothe flame-sprayed schoopage contact layer for current transmission; andsaid mat being held together with the schoopage contact layer only bypressure contact and not by soldering.